The College Preparatory Invitational 'College Spotlight' Aims to Immerse Students in Collegiate Equestrian Experience

Horsemanship-Based Clinic Series Ideal for College Bound Riders

MIAMI, Florida - July 11, 2016 - The
College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) introduced
College Spotlight, a unique horsemanship-based clinic series designed to offer young equestrians an inside look at college equestrian programs and to explore colleges of their choice firsthand. Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia will host the first CPI clinic from September 9-10, 2016, with Randolph's Director of Riding and Equestrian Head Coach, Chris Mitchell serving as head clinician.

The multifaceted clinics are an ideal way for college bound students to gain access to the participating college of their choice and to immerse themselves in the collegiate riding experience. The College Spotlight clinic format combines in-barn horsemanship with mounted instruction and includes college tours and the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives over the weekend. Each of the CPI College Spotlight clinic will accept 24 riders at the all-inclusive price of $475.00. Applications for the CPI College Spotlight Program can be found on the CPI website at
www.collegeprepinvitational.com/cpi-clinics

"The CPI clinics are a way for student riders to get to know a particular college up close and personal in an immersive weekend of training and competition," said Lindsay Martin, CPI President. "Our hope is to broaden awareness for all of the incredible collegiate programs out there among our CPI student riders and to provide colleges with additional opportunities to reach potential candidates."

About Chris Mitchell

Chris Mitchell joined Randolph College in July of 2012 after a very successful 13-year tenure at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Since taking over at Randolph he has had three riders qualify for IHSA Nationals and in 2014 coached one National Champion.

In his 13 years at Cornell, he led many riders to regional and zone championships. His teams claimed 27 collegiate horse show team crowns, including four Ivy League titles. Mitchell led his team to a brand new level during the fall of 2011, guiding the group to six invitational titles in eight competitions, already matching a school record for victories in a season (six show titles in 2003-04). Mitchell's teams won a pair of shows (Skidmore, Hartwick) en route to a regional reserve champion showing in 2009-10. His 2010-11 team won its first-ever regular season regional championship after claiming four team blue ribbons during the season.

Mitchell had previously been an instructor and trainer at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y., and was the barn manager and trainer for Lion Hill Farm in Easton, Conn., from 1996-98. During that time, he also served as an equestrian instructor for Sacred Heart University and was an assistant coach and instructor at Pace University. He coached one of his riders to a national championship in walk-trot equitation at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition and had other riders place among the top 10 nationally in the novice flat, novice fences, intermediate fences and open levels.

Mitchell was a member of the NCAA steering committee for equestrian and is also a member of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), and a board member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). He is a graduate of Longwood University in Farmville, Va., with a degree in business administration and marketing.

About Randolph Riding Center

Randolph College's beautiful Randolph Riding Center is situated on 100 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The facility features two outdoor rings, The Claire Noyes Cox indoor arena (120' x 300'), schooling rings; a hunter trial course and outside schooling jumps. Amenities include a modern 40-stall barn where the college houses its 30 quality school horses.

About the College Preparatory Invitational

The CPI is a three-day event designed to educate student riders about the different formats of college equestrian competitions and provide riders with resources to help them create their desired college equestrian experience. Riders in grades 8 through 12 have a chance to win scholarships in hunt seat equitation competition and participate in educational presentations throughout the event. In an effort to encourage academic excellence and embed social integrity as a lifelong commitment to the equestrian sport, the CPI Scholarship and Educational Fund also awards riders the opportunity to win scholarships for academics and community service. To learn more about the College Prep Invitational please visit their website at
www.collegeprepinvitational.com